Fiber drop terminal and bracket

Abstract

A drop terminal mounting system includes a fiber drop terminal having a housing and a base attached to the housing. The housing includes an outer surface containing a plurality of receptacles and cooperatively defines an inner cavity with the base. The drop terminal mounting system further includes a bracket having a first fastening region and a second fastening region adapted to secure the drop terminal to the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for mounting fiber optic connection locations to a pole, the system comprising:
 a bracket extending along a length between opposite first and second ends and along a width between opposite first and second sides, the length being longer than the width, the bracket having a front and a rear each extending along the length and along the width, the rear of the bracket being configured to face the pole when the bracket mounts to the pole, the front of the bracket including a plurality of receptacles; and 
 a terminal having a front and a rear, the front of the terminal carrying a plurality of fiber optic connection locations accessible from an exterior of the terminal, the fiber optic connection locations being angled to face at least partially towards the second end of the bracket, the rear of the terminal being configured to face the front of the bracket when the terminal is mounted to the bracket, the terminal having a portion that seats in the plurality of receptacles at the front of the bracket. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket includes mounting regions at the first and second ends of the bracket, the mounting regions facilitating mounting the bracket to the pole. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein each mounting region is configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles are keyed receptacles. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes mounting posts that are received in the plurality of receptacles. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of receptacles includes a first receptacle disposed at the top of the bracket and a second receptacle disposed at the bottom of the bracket. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes an input facing towards the second end of the bracket. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes an input facing towards the first end of the bracket. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal includes a base and a housing that cooperate to define an interior, the base defining the rear of the terminal and the housing defining the front of the terminal. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing couples to the base at a sealing interface. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing includes a first stepped face and a second stepped face that each define a plurality of the connection locations. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connection locations of the terminal are sealed. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connection locations of the terminal include ports configured to sealingly couple to fiber optic plug connectors. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the fiber optic connection locations is covered by a detachable member. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the detachable members include plugs. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the detachable members are tethered to the connection locations. 
     
     
       17. A method for mounting fiber optic connection locations to a pole, the method comprising:
 coupling a bracket to a pole having a longitudinal axis by orienting a rear of the bracket to face the pole, securing a top of the bracket to the pole, and securing a bottom of the bracket to the pole, wherein the bracket is elongate between the top and the bottom; and 
 mounting a terminal to the bracket by aligning a rear of the terminal with the front of the bracket, aligning a portion of the terminal with a receptacle protruding from the front of the bracket, and sliding the terminal relative to the bracket in a first direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the pole until the portion of the terminal seats in the receptacle, the terminal carrying a plurality of fiber optic connection locations accessible from an exterior of the terminal, wherein the plurality of connection locations of the terminal are oriented to face at least partially towards the bottom of the bracket. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling the bracket to the pole includes removably coupling the bracket to the pole. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling the bracket to the pole includes threading fasteners at the top and bottom of the bracket. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein an intermediate length of the bracket between the top and the bottom is offset from the pole. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the bracket includes multiple receptacles; and wherein mounting the terminal to the bracket includes sliding portions of the terminal into the receptacles. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the receptacles are disposed at the top and bottom of the bracket. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fiber optic connection locations include ports for mating with fiber optic connectors. 
     
     
       24. A method for mounting fiber optic connection locations to a pole, the method comprising:
 coupling a bracket to a pole by orienting a rear of the bracket to face the pole, securing a top of the bracket to the pole, and securing a bottom of the bracket to the pole, wherein the bracket is elongate between the top and the bottom; and 
 mounting a terminal to the bracket by aligning a rear of the terminal with the front of the bracket, aligning a portion of the terminal with a receptacle protruding from the front of the bracket, and sliding the terminal relative to the bracket until the portion of the terminal seats in the receptacle, the terminal carrying a plurality of fiber optic connection locations accessible from an exterior of the terminal, wherein the plurality of connection locations of the terminal are oriented to face at least partially towards the bottom of the bracket.